We are currently living in a place called Appelsbosch which is Afrikaans for ‘Apple Bush’. That may give you a small hint as to our current living conditions! There have definitely been some adjustments we have had to make now that our home is no longer floating! Sometimes the only thing there is to do is…laugh!
One of the common conversations heard around the base is about water.
“Did you have water in your shower this morning?” “No, but floor 2 had just enough though it was nearly a drip when I was done” or “How many buckets of water did you need to use for your load of laundry?” Or, when there is water but only that which has been stored in the hot water heaters, strategies for showering start spreading!
Strategy 1 – Crouch on the bottom of the shower so that the water will cool from its boiling temperature before it hits your scalp.
Strategy 2 – Stand in the corner of the shower, hold out your hands to catch the water, and splash it onto yourself.
Strategy 3 – Use your hand as a sprinkler system to chop the water in many directions so that there is little direct contact between scalding water and your skin.
Strategy 4 - Don’t shower that day. Although if you choose this strategy, please use one of the above tomorrow.
The people in this area say that there has been a drought here for many years, which explains the shortage of water. If you watch the movie ‘Faith Like Potatoes’ (VERY highly recommended), you will see the area where we live right now! The story took place only 30 minutes from here!! It seems as though drought is a common difficulty the people in this area have dealt with for years.
Please pray for rain as we move into the heat of the summer months (Southern Hemisphere :0)!
Here are some pictures of where we are currently staying in South Africa.
